The Sacrament of Eucharist
Eucharist, from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning ‘thanksgiving,’ is the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, in which he is present under the forms of bread and wine offering himself in the sacrifice of the Mass, and giving himself as spiritual food to the faithful. At the Last Supper, the Lord instituted the eucharistic sacrifice of his body and blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again; and so to entrust the church with a memorial of his death and resurrection.
The Eucharist completes Christian initiation. It is the source and summit of the Christian life. Through this sacrament of initiation, we participate with the whole community of believers in the Lord’s own sacrifice. Children typically receive first Eucharist in second grade after completing two years of formal Religious Education classes at the parish.